Aunt Marianne Labuche will be the next bronze sculpture. She was Prairie Du Chien's first Physician. She rescued and nursed her granddaughter, baby Louise Gagnier who had been scalped and left for dead. Photo is small replica.

While looking through my files and references, I realize that it has been many years since the beginnings of the Mississippi River Sculpture Park. Some folks may not remember the original vision. In 2002 I started learning about the history of Prairie du Chien, near the confluence of the Wisconsin and the Mississippi Rivers. From personal stories, archeological records, news articles, books and library research I found that people from all corners of the world had come to this place over time to work, trade and live. I began to realize that this was a place worthy of an important monument. In order to illustrate the full significance of this place in history, it would be necessary to have many historical figures representing different times. I found that there is new enlarging technology that helps make it possible to translate small clay maquettes into life-size bronze sculpture. This allowed the possibility of making several life-size sculptures for the sculpture park. Previously each sculpture would have had to have been made life-size in clay in the studio and transported to the foundry, a near impossible task. As it is now, we can use the most modern technology along with the most ancient bronze casting techniques so the vision can encompass this whole amazing history. Here is our original Mission Statement:

“To provide unique aesthetic and educational opportunities to experience 12,000 years of history at the confluence of the Wisconsin and Mississippi Rivers.”

As the MRSP stands now, it is the first chapter of this grand history. As it develops it will become the grand and significant monument as intended. Following is a list of the historical characters for the sculpture park and their timelines:

Imagine 25 life-sized, historical figures from Prairie du Chien’s past enshrined in bronze statue form, placed carefully in a spacious park setting along the scenic Mississippi River. Doesn’t that sound enchanting? The Mississippi River Sculpture Park, as it sits in Prairie du Chien today, is the beginning of that exact vision. Currently, there are five statues in the free, self-guided park, at Villa Louis Road and Bolvin Streets.

But, to get the full effect of what the sculpture park could be someday, local residents and visitors of all ages and interests are invited to check out a new display that showcases the 20 additional statues planned for the setting in the future. A display cabinet—located in the small, limestone, “Eagles on the River” building as you first access Water Street on the island—presents the 25 total sculptures, as miniature, acrylic replicas, that may, one fine day, be arranged altogether in the park.

“It even includes the fire circle that’s there,” shared Melody Igou, Mississippi River Sculpture Park board member. “The display gives people an idea of what this park can really be.”

Igou said the board realizes each of these sculptures is quite expensive, and recently, the members have done research into how they can bring the cost down significantly. Doing so could make the finished park to fruition much sooner too.

In the meantime, Igou would really like the public to make a special trip to the Eagles building to view the exhibit. Seeing all 25 of these select figures, who helped shaped the area, together, may truly drive home the essence of the grand potential this one-of-a-kind sculpture park has. She and the board hope this display will provide further inspiration to people to visit the park, walk among the statues, learn their stories and possibly consider donating toward the coming sculpture.

At present, the figures in the park include Black Hawk, Dr. William Beaumont, Victorian Lady, Voyageur and Emma Big Bear.

The next bronze sculpture, Aunt Marianne LaBuche, was Prairie du Chien’s first physician. She rescued and nursed her granddaughter, baby Louise Gagnier, who had been scalped and left for dead. As of mid-July, $28,000 was yet needed to complete the LaBuche statue.

Sculptor's Corner, July 2017:
Florence Bird, sculptor.
The life sized clay sculpture of Aunt Marianne LaBuche has been taken to the bronze foundry in Milwaukee.The photo left, shows the sculpture torso which has been covered with the silicon rubber mold material. The bumps embedded in the mold are there to register with the plaster backing which will be applied in sections to keep the mold firm. When this is done and all sections are complete they will be removed from the clay model and the sections will be ready for receiving the sculpture wax.
The sculpture wax will be melted and poured into the mold sections to be about 3/4 inches thick. These wax pieces will then be attached to sprues (wax sticks) and mounted on a board. Then the wax section assembly will be turned upside down and dipped into a ceramic slurry and dried several times. When the ceramic slurry is dry with the wax inside, this will be put into a kiln where the wax will melt out and leave the mold ready to receive the bronze.
While the ceramic mold is in the kiln the bronze will be melting in a crucible to about 2100 degrees Fahrenheit. When the mold is ready, still hot, and the wax is gone it will be taken out and put upside down in a bed of sand ready to have the molten bronze poured into the space where the wax had been. This process will be followed for each section of the original mold.
Then when all of the pieces have been cast they will be cleaned and welded together using the same type of bronze for welding rod.
When the whole sculpture is welded together it will be cleaned and the patina (color) will be applied. The color is done with different chemicals sprayed on to the bronze when the finished sculpture is warm and a final wax finish is applied to help preserve the color.
The whole process takes months to complete and each sculpture is one-of-a-kind.
Following is the cost estimate (the actual cost may be a bit different) for this part of making the sculpture:
* Wax casting and finishing ———— —— $5,300.00
* Spruing through bronze casting— ——— 10,300.00
* Welding and metal finishing— — — — — 10,100.00
* Patina ————————————— —— 1,300.00 Total foundry work— — — —- _$27,000
Shipping and insurance ——————— — —700.00
bronze name plate —————————— —-600.00
Total shipping, ins. and name plate——— $1,300
Total needed to complete ———— — —$28,300.00

(Donation Info)I first heard of Aunt Mary Ann LaBuche from a friend who suggested that she was significant in the history of Prairie du Chien and this region.
Her story is unique and different. As the first physician, before medical doctors arrived in the community, she contributed to many people's lives with her herbal and folk remedy healing.
The most dramatic was the rescue and healing of her granddaughter who, as a baby, was scalped and left for dead during what eastern newspapers called the Red Bird Massacre.
Her family was attacked by the native Red Bird and his cohorts who were seeking revenge for tribal deaths. This happened just south of Prairie du Chien, where Walmart now has a parking lot.
Mrs. Gagnier and her son escaped after her husband and a friend were killed, and her baby, Mary Louisa Gagnier, was scalped and left for dead.
Aunt Mary Ann took the baby, who was still alive, and applied a silver plate to the wound (silver is an antibiotic) and nursed her tenderly with herbs and loving care. The baby lived to be 67 years old and always wore a ribbon in her hair to cover her scar
.Aunt Mary Ann LaBuche, like many settlers in this area, was of mixed heritage, part French,part Sioux, and part African American.
While I was modeling the first image of her, which is shown on our website, I emphasized her African heritage by the features on her face. Recently, I met some of her descendants who have researched her life and showed me a photograph of Mary Louisa Charrier (the baby in the story), taken when she was an adult. I have remodeled the features of the Aunt Mary Ann LaBuche to reflect a more accurate family portrait. It makes me feel like I am participating in this amazing family history.
Artist, Florence Bird

Friends

The free, public gardens are located on the east side of St. Feriole Island in Prairie du Chien, WI. The gardens consist of 10 acres of pocket gardens and full fields of gardens. Included are the Children's Garden, Spring Pond, Shade Gardens, Backwater Garden and the Patio Garden. Items of northern gardens can be found here. Enjoy the serenity of the gardens on St. Feriole Island along the Mississippi River.

Friends

Each year, the talent is a little bit different; the long-time veterans bring back the favorites and the newcomers add a touch of their own flair. But in the end, the result is the same: the community of Prairie du Chien raises thousands of dollars for the Eagles Club Heart and Cancer Telethon.